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Latest News [2008] archive from October 2008
| Sign of the times
Just three hours after the opening of London's prestigious Westfield shopping centre, the first shoplifter was arrested. 31 October 2008 | |
| Sky subscribers top nine million
Sky has passed the milestone of nine million subscribers having signed up an additional 87,000 customers in the three months to September 30. 31 October 2008 | |
| Electrical retailers could benefit from new SMS price comparison service
Retailers are being encouraged to sign up to a new SMS price comparison service that informs shoppers about the best prices in the high street by sending a ‘real time’ text message to their mobile phone. | |
| Toshiba reports net loss
Toshiba reported a net loss of Yen 26.9 billion (around £169.3m) in its second quarter to September on sales that fell Yen 148.2bn to Yen 1,877.1bn. 30 October 2008 | |
| Sony reports 93 per cent fall in pre-tax income
A massive 93 per cent drop in second-quarter pre-tax income has been reported by Sony. 30 October 2008 | |
| Sony's dancing MP3 player launches in UK
Sony has finally launched its highly-anticipated dancing portable audio player, the Rolly, in the UK. | |
| TomTom drives the sat-nav market forward with new HD Traffic technology
Satellite navigation brand TomTom is claiming to have revolutionised the market with the launch of a brand new, groundbreaking traffic information technology that utilises date from mobile phone users. | |
| Sales and income fall at Panasonic
Panasonic Corporation has reported a four per cent fall in consolidated group sales and a 19 per cent drop in pre-tax income.
29 October 2008 | |
| MP calls Argos store card "wicked"
An Argos store card that is claimed to charge more than 222 per cent interest has been called "wicked" by Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable. 29 October 2008 | |
| Whirlpool wields jobs axe
Whirlpool is to axe 5,000 jobs by the end of next year to save $275 million (around £171m) a year in what the company admitted were aggressive steps to address declining global demand and increased material costs. 29 October 2008 | |
| Clash over games ratings
The film and games industries are at loggerheads over who should be in charge of age ratings for games. 28 October 2008 | |
| High street sales continue to fall
High street sales have fallen for the seventh month in a row and retailers predict November will be no better. 28 October 2008 | |
| Top firms call for return of rate relief on empty properties
Top firms have called on Prime Minister Gordon Brown to bring back business rate relief for empty properties immediately. 28 October 2008 | |
| Electrolux profits up
Electrolux reported net third-quarter sales of SKr 26.35 billion (around £2.1bn) a small drop from the SKr 26.37bn notched up in the same period last year. 27 October 2008 | |
| Canon revises forecast
Digital camera maker Canon has cut its full year forecasts following a 26 per cent fall in its third-quarter operating profits. 27 October 2008 | |
| Woolworths lenders call in restructuring experts
Two of Woolworths's biggest lenders have called in Deloitte's corporate restructuring division. 27 October 2008 | |
| Servis UK Ltd in administration
Servis UK Ltd has been put into administration.
27 October 2008 | |
| Sales still falling at John Lewis
For the fifth week in a row, department store group John Lewis has reported falling sales. 24 October 2008 | |
| Retailers dispute official sales figures
Sales across all retail sectors fell by 0.4 per cent last month according to official figures. 24 October 2008 | |
| Sony slashes forecast
Sony has cut its forecast for annual operating income by 57 per cent. 24 October 2008 | |
| Sales fall 7% at DSGi
DSG International – the parent company of Currys, Currys.digital, PC World and Dixons – is to slash £30 million a year off its costs as consumer confidence falls across Europe. 23 October 2008 | |
| First Freesat+ HD PVR due next month
The first Freesat+ personal video recorder will be in the shops next month. 23 October 2008 | |
| A make or break Christmas for retail?
A year-on-year fall in the value of retail sales is forecast by a group of leading analysts and economists. | |
| Call for £1bn fund to save small businesses
The Government is being asked to provide a £1 billion rescue fund for small businesses. 23 October 2008 | |
| MPC unanimous on base rate cut
Minutes released today of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting earlier this month revealed that members voted unanimously to cut base rates from five per cent to 4.5 per cent. 22 October 2008 | |
| Argos parent makes £437m loss
Falling sales at its two flagship chains - high street catalogue retailer Argos and DIY business Homebase - have added to a troubled first half-year at the Home Retail Group. 22 October 2008 | |
| Apple surges ahead
Apple has reported a 26 per cent jump in its net profits to $1.14 billion (around £683m) in the three months to September 27. 22 October 2008 | |
| London could get Freeview HD in 2009
London and other key metropolitan areas could begin receiving Freeview HD services in time for the 2010 World Cup. | |
| Government promises more help for SMEs
The Government has promised further help to small and medium-sized businesses during the economic downturn. 22 October 2008 | |
| Local competition fears over Co-op Somerfield merger
The Co-operative Group's proposed acquisition of grocery chain Somerfield does not raise serious national competition issues, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) said. 21 October 2008 | |
| Circuit City to axe stores and jobs?
Circuit City, the USA's second biggest electrical retailer behind Best Buy, is contemplating the closure of "at least" 150 stores and the axing of thousands of jobs to avoid going into Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, according to the Wall Street Journal. 21 October 2008 | |
| Freeview could benefit from downturn
The economic downturn could end up benefiting digital terrestrial TV platform Freeview, according to a new report. 21 October 2008 | |
| LG profits tumble
LG Electronics saw its net profits tumble by Won 314 billion (around £141.3 million) to Won 25 billion (around £14.1m) in the three months to September 30. 21 October 2008 | |
| Profits slump at Debenhams
Department store group Debenhams reported a 16.2 per cent slump in pre-tax profits to £110.1 million against £131.4m a year ago in its preliminary results for the 52 weeks to August 30. 21 October 2008 | |
| Murdoch hits out at "huge injustice"
Rupert Murdoch has hit out at regulators who are forcing Sky to cut its 17.9 per cent stake in ITV to less than 7.5 per cent. 20 October 2008 | |
| BBC iPlayer now on Sky Player
The BBC iPlayer can now be accessed through Sky's online TV service, Sky Player. | |
| Aga sales tumble
Cooker maker Aga Rangemaster has warned that recent orders are 15 per cent down on last year. 20 October 2008 | |
| Freesat speaks out on Freeview HD announcement
Freesat, the joint venture between the BBC and ITV offering free, digital satellite television, has responded to the news that media watchdog Ofcom has awarded two licences for HD channels on Freeview from 2010. | |
| John Lewis sales in 4.8 per cent fall
The John Lewis Partnership revealed today that sales at its 27 department stores dropped 4.8 per cent in the week to October 11.
17 October 2008 | |
| Bargain hunters cause chaos at new Currys store
A sale at the new Currys Megastore – said to be Britain’s biggest electrical outlet – at Axletree Way, Wednesbury, West Midlands, caused chaos yesterday, as customers swarmed on the store to pick up a bargain. | |
| Pure scores hat-trick at What Hi-Fi? Awards
Pure has won all three portable radio categories in the 2008 What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision Awards. | |
| Comet scoops top retail award
Comet was awarded the top prize for Customer Initiative at the People In Retail 2008 Awards held in London last week (8 October). | |
| Abolishing shoplifting fines won't help, says BRC
Scrapping fixed penalties for shoplifting won’t help to solve the problem, according to the British Retail Consortium (BR). | |
| Digital radio listening on the up
Figures released by Rajar today (October 16) show a steady increase in digital radio listening with figures revealing around 30 per cent year-on-year growth in the key areas; DAB platform share, listening hours and adults with a DAB radio at home. | |
| D&G management go ‘back to the floor’
Domestic and General’s managing director, Ken Wilson, and the company’s senior management team went ‘back to the floor’ this month, as part of the Institute of Customer Service (ICS) annual Customer Service Week initiative. | |
| Electrolux increases prices to meet rising cost of raw materials – ERT online exclusive
Electrolux has increased its appliance prices by an average of six per cent across Europe. | |
| Carphone Warehouse unveils plans for Best Buy stores in Europe
Carphone Warehouse has announced its initial plans for the launch of its Best Buy consumer electronics stores in Europe, including a strong emphasis on service and larger retail outlets. | |
| Sony launches new Quantum of Solace themed ad campaign
Sony has unveiled a new ad campaign exclusively shot with Daniel Craig as James Bond. | |
| Loewe in UK assault
German CE brand Loewe has unveiled ambitious plans to open more than 30 branded high street stores in the UK. | |
| Freesat launches joint marketing initiative with US channel BET
Freesat, the free to air satellite TV service, and US channel BET (Black entertainment television) have launched a targeted retail marketing campaign in the lead up to the key pre-Christmas sales period. | |
| Independent focus pays off for Amica
Polish brand Amica has revealed that business has increased dramatically this year, following its major focus on the independent sector. | |
| Retail sales down six months out of seven
UK retail sales values fell 1.5% on a like-for-like basis, from September 2007, when they had risen 3.0%, according to the latest BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor. | |
| DSGi denies Electro World sell-off rumour
DSGi has denied reports in the Hungarian press that it is to sell its low-priced electrical goods chain Electro World in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland. | |
| Bissell wins Which? Best Buy award
Bissell’s AromaPro upright deep cleaner has been awarded a Which? Magazine Best Buy accolade in the publication’s recent carpet cleaner test. | |
| TomTom sat nav is the 'Gadget You Can't Live Without'
TomTom has received the coveted 'Gadget You Can't Live Without' award at the UK T3 Awards 2008 for its top-of-the-range portable navigation device, the TomTom GO 930 Traffic. | |
| Channel 4 pulls out of DAB
Digital radio industry trade body, the DRDB (Digital Radio Development Bureau), has expressed its disappointment at Channel 4’s decision to pull out of DAB. | |
| Modular fridge wins Electrolux Design Lab 2008
An Austrian design student has won the Electrolux Design Lab 2008 with his concept Flatshare – a modular fridge with individual compartments for people who live with several roommates. | |
| Panasonic sets concrete targets for ‘eco ideas’ in Europe
Panasonic Europe has announced its European targets on its eco ideas initiative. | |
| A half point cut is not enough, says TUC
Brendan Barber, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), claims that this week’s half point cut in interest rates is “simply not enough”. | |
| Asda staff benefit from multi-million pound windfall
Thousands of workers from Asda stores and depots across the country are celebrating following the maturity of the company’s Colleague Share Ownership Plan which has paid out more than £2 million in free shares. | |
| Shopper numbers up in September
Despite the current financial climate, September saw an unexpected year-on-year rise in shopper numbers, according to the latest Experian Retail FootFall Index. | |
| ASA backs Vax's 'no loss of suction' claims
The Advertising Standards Authority has upheld claims that the Mach range of vacuum cleaners operate with no loss of suction. | |
| 250,000 West Country consumers to get switchover help
Digital UK has announced that around 250,000 older and disabled people across the West Country will now be able to get help with the switchover to digital television next spring, through the Switchover Help Scheme. | |
| Arqiva invites proposals for a new national DTT channel
Digital terrestrial multiplex owner Arqiva has announced that it is inviting proposals for an additional digital terrestrial television channel to launch on one of its DTT multiplexes. | |
| Wincanton cleans up at the Valpak awards
Wincanton is celebrating after scooping the gold award for achievement in the ‘Best Business to Business WEEE Service’ category at this year’s Valpak Awards. | |
| Panasonic to sponsor WWF work on the Arctic
Panasonic has signed up to become one of the first corporate sponsors of WWF’s work on the Arctic. | |
| One in 10 online shoppers is a victim of fraud
One in 10 online shoppers (12 per cent) have been a victim of identity theft with people shopping from home in their name, according to a GfK survey of 2,270 households. | |
| Tesco sees good growth in electricals
Despite the tough retail environment supermarket giant Tesco has reported a steady rise in half-year profits. | |
| HI Distribution adds Electrolux
HI Distribution has added the Electrolux Group’s brands to its range. | |
| Zoombak protects your pooch
Worried about losing your car, bike, laptop, dog, wife or husband? | |
| Kesa chief exec to retire
Kesa chief executive Jean-Noel Labroue has decided to retire. | |
| Roberts teams up with the political parties
Roberts Radio teamed up with the BBC to deliver the latest news on the digital radio revolution at the party political conferences this Autumn. | |
| Credit crunch biting small businesses
Figures released today from a poll by the Federation of Small Businesses reveal that a majority of small businesses have seen their operating costs increase and trade reduced in the last year, while most would back a reduction in interest rates by the Bank of England. 07 October 2008 | |
| Electrical goods warranties more competitive, but rules not fully obeyed
Action to make the supply of extended warranties on domestic electrical goods more competitive has saved consumers money, but there is evidence that some stores are still not fully complying with legislation, according to an OFT report published recently. 06 October 2008 | |
| Retra welcomes Freeview as Digital Help Scheme's standard of choice for West Country
The announcement that Freeview is to be the Digital Help Scheme’s standard offer for the West Country has been welcomed by independent electrical retailers association, Retra. 06 October 2008 | |
| Panasonic launches Eco Relay campaign
The newly-named Panasonic Corporation is conducting a group-wide ecology campaign called ‘Panasonic Eco Relay’ from October 4 to 16, during which the company’s employees around the world will carry out various environmental activities. | |
| Businesses condemn flexible working plans
Businesses have slammed government plans to extend flexible working rights to 4.5 million extra workers. | |
| Game Group has reported record first half profits
UK video games retailer Game Group has reported record first half profits and raised its full-year sales forecast. | |
| LG owns up to lip-sync glitch on Bluetooth TVs
LG is “investigating solutions” to a problem with its new Bluetooth TV sets, announced for global launch at IFA. | |
| ERT changes with the times
ERT Weekly will relaunch on October 23, as a bi-weekly magazine, to reflect the rapidly changing nature of the industry. | |
| Squeeze on family budgets and savings is 'worst since 1958'
Family budgets are more squeezed than at any time in five decades, according to official figures | |
| Yamaha unveils celebrity endorsees
YAMAHA claims new advertising is “quite distinct from anything else that you’re going to see this season from the majority of consumer electronics companies”. | |
| Landmark shift over leases
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) is calling on all commercial landlords to emulate one of the largest by accepting rents monthly in advance.
01 October 2008 | |
| New NMW warning
Employers who fail to pay their staff the national minimum wage could soon face hefty automatic fines and unlimited penalties in court. | |
| More ERTV CIH Show footage - online now
ERTV's second and final instalment of this year's CIH Show footage is now available online. | |
